By Automobile

*Once you pass the Arnold Arboretum, keep left at split, following ramp through two sets of lights (through Washington and New Washington Streets)

At the rotary, go two-thirds of the way around

Enter Franklin Park, and follow Zoo signs

* Please note, the Casey Overpass Project is now underway. Due to construction, there may be slight delays. For updates, see the Casey Arborway Project's website.

Route 128 North or South:

Take exit 15A (Dedham Exit) to Route 1A

Stay on Route 1 (approximately 4 miles) until it becomes the VFW Parkway

Continue on the VFW Parkway, approximately 3 miles, until it ends

Take a left on Centre Street

At the rotary take 203 East onto the Arborway

*Once you pass the Arnold Arboretum, keep left at split, following ramp through two sets of lights (through Washington and New Washington Streets)

Stay in right lanes to follow straight to the rotary

At the rotary, go two-thirds of the way around

Enter Franklin Park, and follow Zoo signs

* Please note, the Casey Overpass Project is now underway. Due to construction, there may be slight delays. For updates, see the Casey Arborway Project's website.

I93 North of Boston:

Take I-93S to Exit 15, Columbia Road

At the end of ramp take a right onto Columbia Road

At the 3rd light Columbia Road turns left

Continue on Columbia Road through 9 more lights

Go straight across Blue Hill Avenue

Parking for the zoo is on the left - entrance into the zoo is on your right. If lot is full, stay straight on Franklin Park Road and there is additional parking on your right

I93 South of Boston:

Take I-93N to Exit 15, Columbia Road

Take a right at the end of the ramp - you must go up and around the rotary and then come back - to be heading in the correct direction on Columbia Road

At the 3rd set of lights, Columbia Road turns left. Continue on Columbia Road through 9 more sets of lights

Go straight across Blue Hill Avenue

Parking for the zoo is on the left - entrance into the zoo is on your right. If lot is full, stay straight on Franklin Park Road and there is additional parking on your right

Route 9:

Take Route 9 to Route 1 (the Jamaica Way) south

Follow Route 1 to Route 203 East

Stay in the left lane and go over the overpass

At the next rotary go two-thirds of the way around, enter Franklin Park, and follow Zoo signs

Public Transportation

Three options:

Take the Orange Line or Commuter Rail to Ruggles Station, then take the Route 22, 28, 29, or 45 bus to Franklin Park Zoo. Routes 22 and 28 are “Key Bus Routes” and are every 20 minutes or better, seven days per week, during service hours.

Take the Orange Line or Commuter Rail to Forest Hills Station, then take the Route 16 bus to Franklin Park Zoo.

Take the Red Line to Andrew station, then take the Route 16 bus to Franklin Park Zoo.

For bus schedules, rates and more information please visit www.MBTA.com or call 617-222-3200.

Special Offers

Accessibility

Franklin Park Zoo is handicap accessible. Guests who rely on service dogswhich are trained to perform specific tasks are welcome to bring them into the Zoo, provided the animals remain under the guest's control at all times. Guests are solely responsible for the care and control of their animals.

UPDATE: Wheelchairs available starting May 2

Wheelchairs may be rented at the Admission booths on a first-come, first-serve basis. We do not guarantee day-of availability.

Manual wheelchair rental fee: $5

Borrowers are required to present a current photo ID.

Equipment Rental: Locker, Strollers, Wheelchairs

Rental equipment is located by Admissions booths

Lockers: $1.00

Strollers:Single strollers: $5.00 Double strollers: $7.00 Stroller rentals are not available between November and April.

Wheelchairs:

UPDATE: Wheelchairs available starting May 2

Wheelchairs may be rented at the Admission booths on a first-come, first-serve basis. We do not guarantee day-of availability.

Manual wheelchair rental fee: $5

Borrowers are required to present a current photo ID.

First Aid

There’s no assigned nurse or medical facility on grounds. We do provide basic first aid supplies when requested by an adult. We do not give out pills of any sort. Basic medications may be purchased at our gift shop. When requested, EMT services can be called to the Zoo.

Lost and Found

The Zoo maintains a lost and found, but the Zoo is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Items and articles found by our staff or visitors are kept for a minimum of 30 days when turned in. After 30 days, the Zoo reserves the right to dispose of said items at the Zoo's discretion.

Missing something after your visit? Call 617-989-2000 to check if it has been turned in. We’ll need an exact description of the item along with your name and a number where you can be reached. If we have the item, we’ll call you back to arrange a pick-up time that’s convenient for you.

Lost Children

If you become separated from your child, please notify the nearest Zoo employee. Zoo staff will need a general description of what your child was wearing, name, age, sex, and the area you last saw him/her. This will be relayed to our security officers and other Zoo staff, and we will begin an immediate search.

We don’t have a general PA system throughout the park. If you don’t see an employee nearby, please head to the nearest admissions booth. If a child is found, we will have them taken to our administrative building to await you. Resolutions not resolved after 30 minutes are referred to the local police.

Pets

Pets are not allowed on Zoo grounds to protect the health and safety of our animals and your pets. Service dogs trained to perform specific tasks are allowed. Please don’t leave your pets in your parked vehicle while visiting the Zoo.

Zoo Rules

For the safety and comfort of visitors and Zoo animals, the following rules are in effect during your Zoo visit:

Don’t feed or allow children to feed any of the animals in the Zoo's collection. Each animal is on a specially enriched diet prescribed by the Zoo's professionally-trained veterinarian staff that keeps it healthy and fit. Things that people find good, healthy and harmless might be very harmful to the animals.

Tormenting animals is not tolerated and guests found doing so will be asked to leave immediately.

Stay on pathways and don’t place children on the railings.

Don’t throw anything into animals’ exhibits or the water (including coins). Even the simplest object can be hazardous if swallowed.

Children must always be in the company of adults.

There must be one chaperone over the age of 19 for every 10 guests 18 years old and younger. There must be one chaperone for every 5 pre-school children. Chaperones must stay with their group at all times.

Roughhousing and heavy horseplay, as well as running around or screaming, is discouraged, as it bothers other guests and animals.

Any theft or destruction of Zoo property will result in prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.

The Zoo doesn’t have public storage facilities, and no items may be left in the care of Zoo employees or left unattended on Zoo grounds. The Zoo is not responsible for items left unattended and will dispose of abandoned items when necessary.

Shirts and shoes must be worn at all times.

Visitors are permitted to bring their own lunches and food into the Zoo. If you choose to bring your own food, please follow these rules:

No glass containers of any sort

No alcohol of any kind

No straws

To help with our conservation efforts, please deposit plastic and aluminum cans in the Zoo’s recycling receptacles.

For the safety of our Zoo collection, pets or animals of any kind are not allowed on Zoo grounds at any time. Guests who rely on service animals may bring them into the Zoo, provided the animal remains under the guest's control at all times. Guests are solely responsible for the care and control of their animals.